Pharmaceutical Robots Market Forecasts to 2030 - Global Analysis By Product, Application, End User and By Geography

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Pharmaceutical Robots Market is accounted for $204.25 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $549.96 million by 2030 growing at a CAGR of 15.2% during the forecast period. The pharmaceutical robot market is a subset of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries that focuses on the use of robotic technology and automation in a variety of pharmaceutical processes and applications. These specialist robots are designed to perform things like medicine manufacture, drug discovery, sample handling, laboratory automation, and packing. Pharmaceutical robots provide precision, consistency, and efficiency, lowering the risk of human mistakes and contamination and thereby improving pharmaceutical product quality and safety.

According to the data published by CNBC, in June 2020, the cumulative unemployment rate in the U.S. decreased from 14.7% in April 2020 to 13.3% in May 2020, whereas 30% of manufacturers stated that they are seeking to hire new employees during the COVID-19 pandemic as the overall employment rate in the manufacturing sector is facing a sharp contraction, declining at a rate of 19.1% from January 2020 to April 2020.

Market Dynamics:

Driver:

Rising need for sterile environments

Sterile conditions are essential in pharmaceutical manufacturing, particularly in the creation of biologics, to prevent contamination and ensure drug safety and efficacy. Pharmaceutical robots are specifically built to function in cleanroom environments and under aseptic circumstances, making them an invaluable asset in achieving high sterility criteria. The demand for pharmaceutical robots that can function in sterile conditions is increasing as the pharmaceutical industry focuses more on biopharmaceuticals and aseptic processing. These robots not only increase the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products, but they also contribute to the optimization of sterile manufacturing processes, resulting in a key driver in the growth of the pharmaceutical robotics market.

Restraint:

High initial costs

The purchase of the robots themselves, integration into current pharmaceutical processes, and training of workers to operate and maintain the equipment may all result in significant upfront costs for the acquisition and installation of robotic systems. These expenses can be particularly costly for smaller pharmaceutical businesses, research institutions, and startups with limited resources. Pharmaceutical robot investments frequently involve strict financial planning and justification as organizations assess the potential long-term benefits of enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and production against the immediate cost outlay. However, while the technology might result in long-term cost savings and increased product quality, the initial cost barrier might discourage some firms from embracing robotic automation, especially when alternative, more economical alternatives are available.

Opportunity:

Growth in drug development

The pharmaceutical sector is constantly expanding with increased investments in R&D, particularly in areas such as biotechnology and personalized treatment. Pharmaceutical robots play an important part in this ever-changing landscape by accelerating drug discovery and development processes. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly turning to robotic automation to speed the drug development pipeline as demand for penetration treatments and therapies grows. The pharmaceutical robot market responds to this demand by providing sophisticated solutions to the industry's desire for faster and more efficient drug development procedures, establishing itself as a driving force in this changing landscape.

Threat:

Risk of technological glitches

Robots are used by pharmaceutical businesses to automate important processes such as drug formulation, sample handling, and laboratory testing. While robotic automation has numerous benefits, it is not immune to technical errors or failures, which can pose severe problems and risks to pharmaceutical operations. Robotic system technical faults can cause errors, disturbances, or even damage to valuable drugs. Because of the intricacy of robotic technology, identifying and resolving problems is a specialized and time-consuming procedure that can result in costly downtime and productivity losses.

COVID-19 Impact:

The epidemic also exposed flaws in global supply chains, creating delays in robotic system acquisition and maintenance. In response, the industry evolved by improving the remote monitoring and teleoperation capabilities of robots, allowing them to be managed remotely. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of pharmaceutical robots in healthcare emergencies while also hastening their integration into pharmaceutical operations, creating the path for more automation and innovation in the post-pandemic pharmaceutical landscape.

The automated dispensing systems segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

The automated dispensing systems segment commanded the largest market share during the projection period, as these systems are intended to automate the exact measurement and distribution of liquids, powders, or other pharmaceutical ingredients, lowering the margin for human error and contamination concerns significantly. Moreover, automated dispensing systems are adaptable and can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical procedures, including compounding, filling, and dosing in drug production and compounding pharmacies.

The drug discovery segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Drug Discovery segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Automation and robotics have transformed the drug discovery process, making it more efficient, precise, and cost-effective. With the incorporation of pharmaceutical robots, high-throughput screening, a vital step in drug discovery, has witnessed significant acceleration, allowing rapid testing of thousands of compounds against specific biological targets. Moreover, these robots provide outstanding accuracy and consistency, decreasing human error and contamination risks while maintaining the reliability of the research results.

Region with largest share:

Due to an expanding trained workforce, advanced technical infrastructure, and supportive government initiatives that promote automation and robotics in the pharmaceutical sector, the Asia-Pacific region held the largest percentage over the forecast period. As a result, the region has a significantly high penetration of pharmaceutical robots, and this number is projected to grow in the near future as the country's pharmaceutical enterprises increase.

Region with highest CAGR:

The North America region is expected to experience profitable growth. Pharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory processes are governed by high quality and safety requirements set by regulatory authorities such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada. Additionally, these standards are intended to ensure pharmaceutical product consistency, accuracy, and integrity. Pharmaceutical robots adhere closely to these criteria, providing precision and automation that reduces the chance of errors and contamination, hence improving regulatory compliance in the region.

Key players in the market

Some of the key players in Pharmaceutical Robots market include: ABB Ltd., Denso Corporation, Durr AG, Epson Robots, FANUC Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., KUKA AG, Marchesini Group, Omron Corporation, Schaeffler Group, Seiko Epson Corporation, Staubli International AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and Universal Robots.

Key Developments:

In September 2023, ABB established a new robotics plant at its existing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The expansion is aimed at elevating its product offerings and services to robotics customers in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. With the expansion, the company becomes the first global industrial robotics company to invest in and fully commit to the North American robotics-manufacturing footprint.

In January 2023, FANUC America Corporation announced the expansion of its headquarters with the construction of a new facility in Auburn Hills, MI. The new facility was used for product development, manufacturing, engineering, and warehousing.

Products Covered:

• Traditional Robots
• Collaborative Pharmaceutical Robots
• Automated Dispensing Systems
• Liquid Handling Robots
• Pharmaceutical Packaging Robots
• Robotic Capsule Fillers
• Other Products

Applications Covered:

• Inspection of Pharmaceutical Drugs
• Laboratory Applications
• Picking and Packaging
• Medication Dispensing
• Drug Discovery
• Inventory Management
• Pharmacy Automation
• Other Applications

End Users Covered:

• Research Laboratories
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Pharmaceutical Research and Development (R&D) Facilities
• Clinical Laboratories
• Hospitals and Healthcare Institutions
• Biotechnology Companies
• Other End Users

Regions Covered:

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • Italy
  • France
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • Japan
  • China
  • India
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Qatar
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:

• Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
• Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
• Covers Market data for the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026, and 2030
• Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
• Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
• Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
• Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
• Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

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• Regional Segmentation
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